Please say it ain't so...

In the past week, I've noticed two different feeders had praying mantis sitting on them, facing the feeding port.

I assumed they were looking for yellow jackets which normally come to the feeders in fall.

And then last night, I read that praying mantis eat hummingbirds.

So I googled around and saw some reports but I would hate to believe it is true.

I would take my feeders down but this area is in severe drought conditions and nothing is blooming for the hummingbirds that live here in summer or pass through on their way south.

Anyone have any experience or opinions?

Christie, I wished it ain't so! But, it IS! I too have read that Preying Mantis prey on hummingbirds. Only I don't hear about such incidences often enough, and I tend to forget the fact. I saw one the other day. Now I'm becoming NOT so fond of them ... any longer.

never heard of this before, but found this article

http://www.birdwatchersdigest.com/bwdsite/learn/hummingbirds/mantis-hummer.php?sc=migrate

Ive actually seen a video om YouTube where a praying mantis ate a butterfly it wasn't a pretty site. The mantis has to be pretty big. I knew that they preyed on bugs but I guess a predator will eat whatever it can.

Oh man... I hate to even think about it. I feel like I am giving them a baited field to hunt over. I saw the youtube video mentioned in a search but decided I did not need to see that.

I do have some potted bloomers that the hummingbirds are attracted to but like to supplement with nectar. I will try to remove the praying mantis when I find them in the vicinity but know it won't take them long to return if they need a food source. I also know they are in the blooming plants too.

Wishing this was just an internet story and hoping they will have enough bug traffic to keep them sated.

Thanks all... pod

Thats weird to think that our conditions are so bad that there arent even enough bugs to feed the mantis. Are your feeds hanging? Ive noticed that the hummers here wont even go near the feeder if ants are in it, or anything unusual. Maybe they are waiting for yellow jackets, we can hope.

All feeders are hanging and only occasionally will I see the little Argentine ants at the feeder. I also have a lizard that drains one feeder. He has a serious sugar addiction and is sometimes waiting on the feeder for it to be replaced. LOL

I don't have the normal yellow jacket crowd at the feeder this year so maybe the praying mantis are more hungry.

Nature is truly amazing.

A lizard! That is truly amazing. You really need to get a picture of that.

That lizard startles me every time but I never have the camera along.
I kept wondering why that feeder emptied faster than the others.
I could tell it wasn't dripping on the ground.

In past years, I had a squirrel that found the same feeder.
Typical of a squirrel, he bit into the feeder and ruined it.

Do you know what kind it is! I think that's cool that he figured out how to get the nectar out.

Lizard? Just your everyday, normal green one. Are they a chameleon? A salamander?
I really don't know but we have a lot of them from juveniles to adults.

A salamander is an amphibian not a reptile lol. Teasing you! I haven't seen any lizards around here this year until recently but I think all these dang birds keep the lizard population down. All the fowl think the back porch is theirs, chickens, guineas, and peafowl. For the life of me I can't figure out why they want to be by the house. I've seen those green lizards climbing on the window screens it really amazes me that you have one that has learned to drink from a hummingbird feeder.

Nonsense! A salamander is a gopher in east TX. LOL No joke ~ that is what the gopher is called around here.

I think the reason it was drawn to the hummer food was for moisture due to the drought. Not really a sweet tooth. Although I'd bet that sugar let it outrun the resident cats.

I would bet your bird population does eliminate some of those lizards.

If you look close, you will see one lurking...

Pod, is that a 'Purlple Spike' above your lizard? I've the same green ones here. But out West in NM they're brown and much bigger. Oh by the way, our green one occassionally look brown too when it comouflage itself and blend in with the tree bark.

Kim ~ it is one of the firespikes. I have both purple and red.

The natural camo that these lizards have is fascinating, isn't it?

This a.m. I changed the feeders and when I reached for one, I grabbed the praying mantis. He was on the backside of the feeder. The feeder was empty so I left it hanging and put another one lower. I am keeping an eye on it but the mantis is out of sight. Kristi

Thanks Kristi. My Firespike bloomed but once in the last few years. I don't know what I'm doing wrong. The plants look healthy otherwise. Here is the type of Lizard that I saw out West. It's much larger than the ones we see back East.

We are seeing a new lizard in this area that is tannish pink colored. I've never tried to get a photo or ID though. Yours looks more brown than our new one.

When you said

Ummm, a tannish pink lizard? Hope you'll have a pix to share. Urrrr, I think mine didn't get enough sunlight?

Reviving this old thread for you Kim. I was moving plants out of the greenhouse yesterday evening. I had a wall of Hoyas and when I untangled the vines to move them out, I found the first ever bloom on my purple firespike.

Now, where are those hummers and butterflies when I need them.
Guess I'm reviving this thread for me ~ lol I just needed somewhere to post it.

Beautiful, what a nice surprise!

Hi Lisa ~ you can't imagine what a shock this was. I've always loved the red firespike so when I saw a purple ( a favorite color ) I jumped on it. When it never delivered blooms, I was disappointed. In fact, I need to mark it as I didn't know which one was red or purple.


I'm wondering what triggered the blooms as my red firespike won't bloom till late summer. The mysteries of the plant world keep me guessing. lol

Kim, do you notice a difference in foliage between the red and purple? My purple seems to have less smooth leaves. The leaves have more waffling?

Hiya Kristi, and 1lisac,

I'm glad you've revived the thread, Kristi. And yes, the mysteries of the the plant world keep me guessing too. The more I know about plants the more question I have, and on and on. lol I think you're right that the leave structure of the two kinda of different. Guess what? Mine, the red one bloomed while it's inside too. I haven't moved mine out, but I think I need to do so soon enough. It has been such a mild winter. I'm so grateful for that... BTW, our hummingbirds aren't here as of yet. Seem like you'll get them before I do here. Do keep me posted. Ooh yes, purple is pretty.

Why did our Firespikes bloom so late? I suppose in the tropic where they get a longer growing season compared to what we've to offer them here? Yup, a late bloomer. That's it? And those stinker Anoles, they already pratrolling the garden as well.

Happy Spring!

Happy Spring it is! You know, I've had the hummer feeders out for a month and only seen one little feller. My SIL in Minnesota said their temps are as warm as ours so there should be migrating hummingbirds but the traffic is sparse here. I know when they arrive we will be swamped. I think our freezes are over here but am only moving out the truly hardy plants this far. The GH gets too scalding hot and I need to put up shade cloth. Have a good weekend and enjoy the weather...

Yike! Christi. Is that some sort of mimicry of a lesser venomous snake? In any case, it looks too scary!!! Reminds me to wear boots when hiking in the wild -- as well as in the garden. Have a good week, and stay away from those fellas!

Most of the time I dont know what got my plants too bloom. LOL

Im still not positive the freezes are over. I wouldnt be surprised if we get one more, or at least a cold snap.

Where did you find the snake? Is it a Hognose?

Yes, it is commonly called a hognose or spreading adder. Totally harmless except it will make us hurt ourselves. It was laying on the sidewalk when we got home the other night. My buddy Pod jumped out of the truck and landed on him. DH was sitting on the tailgate and called for me to come look.

They are interesting. They puff up like a cobra and when that doesn't intimidate, they vent foamy white foul smelling liquid. I read that is to repel predators. And their main diet is toads which have that same substance to repel also. Anyway when these guys realize you won't leave, they quickly roll over on their back and play possum. So fun to watch. It had blood coming from its' mouth and we think Pod might have hurt it when landing on it. I don't think it was serious and I moved it to the woods. It lay upside down for a while, then turned back upright while looking like a normal snake. Finally he disappeared into the leaves... hopefully to never be seen again ~ lol

Upside down on the shovel to be delivered to the woods. You can see a bit of blood from the mouth but no, we didn't injure him. The last photo is when he was upright and a free spirit.

Pretty cool. That was only the second one I'd ever seen in 37 years here.

A few years ago my exhusband put in sod and that, along with excess rain, attracted tons of toads. I saw 4-5 of those snakes. They arent very fast moving either.

I don't think they are too fast mentally either. LOL I suppose all this rain brought the bugs out, so they brought the toads out, so they brought the snakes...

I did see a three to four foot long rattlesnake last Monday. It was crossing the driveway and heading to the neighbors'. I just called the dogs back in and went back to the house. That was right before that last hard rain blew through.

But what I'm overwhelmed with this year is spiders. I've never seen the likes of them in the house ~ from adult to babies. Amazing.

Ive been really fortunate I havent seen many venomous snakes. (knock on wood) Having a slight issue with scorpions tho. I wonder why your seeing so many spiders? Why would they be coming in the house? That is strange.

We commonly see spiders stirring and getting in the house before rains. In fact, we can pretty much predict whether it will rain or not by spider activity.

In springtime, mamma spiders will have babies. All the babes will climb on her and ride. When it is safe, they get off and explore. When alarmed, they all run back to mamma. Well, apparently a herd of these tiny ones separated from mom and I'm seeing scads of teeniny ones.

I use a hand spray bottle with a mixture of diluted Pine Sol. I spray them down, let it sit for a bit and wipe up with a paper towel. Dead spiderettes and a clean floor. How's that for multitasking... not sure if it actually kills them or drowns them. What the heck do I care ~ lol

Lisa and Kristi,

I fortunately haven't been around snakes, neither poisonous or the 'good kind' which benefit our environment/eco-system by hunting on rodents and such. But, I've a snake phobia? I'm pretty sure of that. Ekkkk. Though, I'm getting better. having watched hubby rescue some 'chicken snakes' and sent them back out to the woods. Oh spiders are another pests. Where there is water, there will be spiders! I don't believe we've scorpions here. Lisa, how do you keep those critters in checked? Oooh, I'm shilvering just picture those lobster-like claws.

I agree Kim. I'm not fond of scorpions at all. We have them here (DH has been stung and said it was rather like a wasp) but I think the ones in Lisas' area are far more serious.

I found when we had a bad batch of them, that they are related to the daddy long legs spider. I used some nonorganic powder (Seven dust) around the outside of the house and would find scorps on the porch in the morning, stunned or deceased.

Bad me, but a girl has to do what a girl has to do...

The scoorpins a round here arent dangerous. But they hurt when they sting. Im not sure if its like a wasp because Ive never been stung by one. LOL (Knock on wood)

Everybody around here seems to have problems with scorpins, sometimes worse then others. I dont know why, i guess Ive gotten used to it.

I dont like snakes either. Yuck!

I've heard there are little tan scorpions in the Hill Country area that are really mean when they nail you. I don't know if they are more agressive or what...

Don't much care for any of them either... still awaiting the hummers arrival. I find them preferable. 8 )

Could the little green lizzies be geckos ?

In the Valley they were everywhere
inside and outside homes but
I dunno if they can handle the cold
this far north ....

Lol ~ or could they be geicos? 8 ) Cute photo...

When I lived west of Austin I reached in the center hole of a spool of TV cable and was stung in the edge of my finger nail I turned around a few times said a few choice words and out come a brown scorpion with a black back. Shortly after my hand and arm felt numb and then my tongue, so I called a nurse friend good news I wasn't allergic and she had me put my finger in clorox which took the sting away. An experience I could have done without, needless to say I pick up wire spools from the side now.

And that is good to know. I will remember the bleach. We have scorpions too and just last Monday evening, I was getting out of the shower and a small one strolled across the floor. Still don't know where he came from... Ewwww!